Three arrested during crackdown on town shops

A crackdown on exploitation and modern slavery in Ipswich led to three immigration-related arrests by police.

Officials also issued £130,000 in fines and seized illicit tobacco as they visited 12 premises in the Gipping and Westgate areas on Wednesday.

They were looking to identify any illegal workers and criminal gangs operating above them as part of a multi-agency operation across Suffolk.

Supt Tom Pearse, from Suffolk Police, said officers were finding people from all over the world who were being exploited in town centre shops.

Police were joined by partners including immigration, fire and Trading Standards officials as part of their Maple Together initiative, and a BBC crew was also invited along.

Officers issued one closure notice on a shop and a fire prohibition notice was also served during the day's action.

Pearse, the southern area commander for Ipswich and Felixstowe, said the operation helped to safeguard people who may be vulnerable to exploitation.

"They live a completely different life to what we would say is acceptable," he told the BBC, describing the conditions some people were being forced to work in.

"They're paid well below the minimum wage and they're paid cash in hand, so they don't exist within the system.

"The fact that they don't exist, the fact that they are vulnerable, means they can be exploited. These people have them at their mercy, effectively."

The law enforcement agencies were looking at the "grey economy" of cash-based businesses, where offences can also include money laundering and the sale of counterfeit goods.

Part of the targeted action involved visiting a shop where illegal goods were previously found being sold.

Officers checked the immigration status of those present and made inquiries about the stock, while also checking in the cellars.

PC Alan Besley said: "Days like this are important because it allows us to work alongside partner agencies.

"We all have our own goals, we all have our own intelligence systems, we all have our own information – so this allows us to come together and share information."

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.